Parents charged over toddler’s death in police station foyer after crash

The parents of a three-year-old boy who died in a police station following a car crash at the Gold Coast last year have been charged.

Caden Case, 3, was brought to the Beenleigh Police Station with head injuries after a vehicle he was travelling in crashed into bushland about 5am on October 25.

He was in the car with his father Samuel Ian Paterson, mother Aneshia Daisy Case, and a one-year-old boy when it crashed.

A witness took Caden and his mother, then 22, to the police station where officers attempted CPR, but he died in the foyer.

Police located Paterson, 25, and the one-year-old at a Beenleigh home, and the boy was taken to hospital for assessment.

At the time, Case claimed her former partner was armed with a gun, but the court was told investigators found no evidence of a weapon.

Police have now alleged Case had been driving the vehicle.

She was charged with manslaughter domestic violence offence against a child, trafficking in dangerous drugs, driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence and possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in Part 2.

Paterson was charged with manslaughter domestic violence offence against a child and trafficking in dangerous drugs.

Their matters were heard separately in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

Case did not appear in person, and her matter was adjourned until Monday, where she is expected to apply for bail.

Paterson, who appeared via videolink from prison, had not decided whether he would pay for a lawyer or apply for legal aid.

“I need to talk to my mum,” he said. “I’m just going to probably pay for a lawyer.”

He did not apply for bail, and his matter was adjourned until March 30.

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